Friday, May 19, 2017

FFF posts seem to be the only ones I am getting done these days. Summer is just around the corner (a week from today I will be DONE), so maybe I can do other posts when I am not surrounded by school details.

1. I've used my new oven a couple of times now, and am very happy with the oven part. The burners - not quite so much. I did not realize that a glass-topped range would be so difficult to keep nice and clean. But it may just be a matter of adjustment.

However - the oven worked very well and I look forward to many good things coming out of it!

The rest of the renovations are coming along - although right now, due to the tiling, we are down to one toilet in the house. :-) Not used to that! Speaking of the tiling,

2. The bathroom floors are done!! The new tile looks so, so much better than the worn-out old vinyl flooring that was in there. We hope to get the painting done in the next couple of weeks, so that the toilets can be reinstalled and we can get back to a semblance of normal at least in the bathrooms.

3. These are my "embryonic groundhogs," as christened by my sophomores, who had their annual "Babe Day" earlier this week with their biology teacher (my dear friend). She has done this ever since she started teaching. When the biology class finishes their pig dissection for the year, they plan a "party" with all pig-related foods, This year they had bacon, cocktail sausages, pigs in blankets, BBQ potato chips (OK, so they stretch the theme a little, but you almost have to), real BBQ, dips topped with crumbled bacon, etc. One girl brought piggie-face cookies. Then, during their party, they watch the old movie Babe. It's the highlight of the biology year.

Well, since the sophomores are my homeroom, and since I had a pig cookie cutter (left over from years ago when my own daughter made pig cookies for this same event) and since a package of puff pastry was staring out from the refrig, I decided to make some pastry piggies. And - they looked adorable when removed out of the oven. The features of a little pig were perfect. However, when I iced them with pink icing - this was the result. Embryonic groundhogs. But they sure did taste good!

4. On Tuesday night we celebrated a belated Mothers' Day with my folks at our favorite restaurant. Always a pleasure.

5. I figured out how to make a messy bun hat! I have been learning how to make these hats, but haven't done a messy bun one yet (the kind with a larger hole at the top to accommodate a ponytail or bun). This one was tried on by several students just to make sure it was right - and they all said it was. Maybe I will get some made for next winter.

Friday, May 12, 2017

1. Strawberries are in full force. My parents have provided several baskets for me - when they go to get some, they ask if I want some also. And I have put a lot of small bags in the freezer because of a new smoothie maker - much simpler than getting out the blender and putting it together, then taking it apart and washing it. My current favorite smoothie recipe: 1 small cup plain Greek yogurt (I've been using Chobani brand), about 10 strawberries, partially thawed, a splash of orange juice, and a couple of packets of Splenda. Very nourishing, very low calorie, and very delicious!

2. Small Paul spoke in our school chapels on Wednesday. Anyone who knows him knows that he is decidedly NOT small - he is about 6' 7". He is a wonderful chalk artist, and our students have looked forward to his trips to our school for over 25 years. I have corresponded with his wife a little bit (they are now missionaries to South Africa), and it was nice to talk with her. Their website is www.drawingotherstochrist.com.

3. House is coming along. This week involved a few setbacks - neither the tile man, nor the man who is fixing the kitchen cabinet for the 2" too tall new refrigerator, could come as planned. But next week much should be accomplished. And as of this week, we do have new doorbells and new garage door openers.

4. Mike had an MRI on his shoulder this week. The orthopedist is out of the office right now, so he doesn't see him until week after next. THEN we schedule surgery. The wheels of medicine grind V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W-L-Y!!

5. And finally - look what I got at school this afternoon!!! Thank you, Mike, for my Mother's Day surprise!